American Hustle

Down and Dirty: A worthy crime drama that shows you what it means to hustle

Director: David O. Russell

Big Names: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence

Director David O. Russell decided to follow up his incredible ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ with this throwback crime drama about a federal sting operation surrounding con artists in the 1970’s. It is a worthy successor to say the least. Russell tackles a different genre than any he has previously worked in, but he navigates the new terrain masterfully.

In short, the story follows a couple of top class con artists (Christian Bale, Amy Adams) who are forced to work on behalf of the FBI (Bradley Cooper) in order to maintain their freedom. They begin targeting a local politician (Jeremy Renner) who has extensive power in the New England area.  Though we don’t spoil anything for you on this blog, you should know what you’re walking into. This movie revolves around not knowing – meaning that you’re constantly guessing who’s double crossing who, where people’s allegiance lies, and what’s in it for the parties involved. It keeps you thinking. It keeps you engaged.

This is due, in large part, to the cast Russell has assembled. Christian Bale put on a good amount of weight to portray a sleazy but lovable con artist and it paid off. He embodies this part to a T. From the comb over to the gut to the tinted shades, his physical appearance is endearingly comical. Amy Adams has an amazing scene where she voices over why her character is interested in Bale. It’s fantastic. It puts you in her character’s head while providing you with the up-and-down visuals that make Bale so spectacular. He really embraces the role. He is effortlessly smooth, smart, and sly in nearly every scene. You’ll quickly find yourself rooting for him despite his vices and broken understanding of how to be successful.

And that’s the biggest thing. His understanding of what life is about is truly broken. He has a family and a wife, albeit a crazy one played sufficiently by Jennifer Lawrence, who loves him. But he would much rather be spending his time with a woman who matches up to his own caliber of deception – a true con artist. Amy Adams plays the love interest incredibly well. Sexy, sensual, and just as smooth as Bale, they formulate a dynamic duo ready to take on the world. Unfortunately, this lifestyle simply isn’t sustainable. Illegally preying on the financially ignorant is equal parts dangerous, lucrative, and immoral and when the FBI catches up with you they don’t play around. They use you for their own gain. If there is one thing you learn from this movie it is that everyone has an angle. Everyone is in it for something. There is no shortage of skin in the game. What might surprise you though is who really represents what. Can the immoral con artists be used as tools for eliminating corruption? Is that corruption worth taking down when it actually helps the greater good? Who decides what defines the greater good? What happens when the lines get blurred?

This movie tries to answer those questions while also taking you straight back to the 1970’s. As a 90’s baby, I simply don’t know what it was like back then. Thanks to this film I now have some idea. The impeccable soundtrack and the outrageous outfits (Bradley Cooper jerry curl included) truly set the scene for the audience. As a reference point, my parents left the theatre feeling absolutely nostalgic and giddy about the representation of the 70’s within the film, even singing some of the songs they had just heard for the first time in a few decades.

As far as crime dramas go, this ranks up there with the best of them. It feels like The Sting or L.A Confidential for the next generation (check both of those out if you haven’t seen them). Overall though, there have been too many other good films this year for me to put this in award contention, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Bale got a nomination for his role. His versatility as an actor cannot be understated. Russell chose him for a reason. If this genre tickles your fancy or you appreciate a really terrific ensemble of actors, I would highly recommend American Hustle. Don’t let the critics con you, this film won’t disappoint.